Replies

1. 
   Dustmight | May 23, 2005 10:21pm | #1

   The X5 are definitely "as good" as other Delta products because as far as I know there's really no difference between X and non X machines. There is a price difference that buys you an extended warranty and possible rebates or other discounts. The value of paying a premium for the X tools depends on your needs and situation, so you'll have to evaluate the merits.

1. 
   NewToHobby | May 23, 2005 10:57pm | #2

   Thanks, KS.

   I just wanted to make sure they weren't cheap knock-offs.

1. 
   mudman | May 24, 2005 06:24am | #3

   Actually the X series tools are the better line of light industrial tools. The X tools generaly have extra features, better fixtures, added accessories and some have bigger motors than the comparable non-X tool. That said I don't see any difference between the DJ-20 and the DJ-20X. The sheet metal base apears to be a little different, so I suspect that they are made in different factories. I have seen it argued on this site that the X-tools are not worth the extra money over the standard tools. I think that what they did was to move manufactureing to cheeper places on the regular line but keep the X tools in the better factories. I really don't know though.... Someone here will.

   Welcome to the site. This is a great place to learn about our craft.

   Mikeplease excuse my spelling.

2. 
   MrChips | May 24, 2005 07:11am | #4

   First, my background:

   1. I spent 15 years working for Rockwell and Delta as Western Regional Service  manager in Canada.

   2. I have been a shop teacher in British Columbia Canada for almost twenty eight years and have used a variety of Delta and General tools.

   Yesterday my son ( a Graduate of the program at U.B.C.) and I put together and tested a Delta 6" XP Jointer made in China.

   After the first cut our jaws dropped open.  The cut was the best we have ever seen.  Smooth true and square we were impressed

    

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/24/2005 12:19 am ET by Lairdo

1. 
   nikkiwood | May 24, 2005 04:44pm | #6

   So what's your speculation on why Delta would come out with two different lines of machines that essentially the same?My guess is that the decision was driven by the marketing people -- thinking they could somehow serve two different segments of the woodworking market. Instead, they seem to have succeeded only in confusing their potential customers.********************************************************
   "I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
   -- Bertrand Russell

1. 
   NewToHobby | May 24, 2005 05:11pm | #7

   Thanks all for your comments. I am looking forward to purchasing tools this summer. Your comments are a big help in organizing my thoughts and budget!

3. 
   bones | May 24, 2005 02:11pm | #5

   I have the x5 drum sander. The model number is slightly different that the base model with standard warrantee. They are the same tool, but with the 5 year warrantee. Also look at the rebate offers at the delta site. From time to time they have good deals.  When I got mine from woodcraft, they had a special 10% off and I purchased the air filtration system and got another $100.00 off. Woodcraft stores have specials every so often called Delta Day's. You get a free tool as well. I also picked up a free PC690 out of the deal. The $100 offer (when you buy $250.00 worth of Delta stuff) expires 6/30. I'm happy with the X5 stuff.  Have fun with the new purchase. 

4. 
   DrChops | May 25, 2005 11:47pm | #8

   hi all,

   as near as i can tell, the x-series line represents some of delta's top line tools. in the x-series,i have a 14" bandsaw, a 6" jointer, and a left tilt unisaw. non x-series delta, i have a 16" drill press and the 13" planer. all of the tools came well packaged, went together very smoothly, and were nearly perfectly aligned right out of the box. the only post-black&decker tool that i have is the unisaw, and the instructions didn't quite match reality (the switch picture was different, some of the bolts were of a different size than documented), but it was easy to figure out "the right thing to do" and everything went together very smoothly -- clearly the machining was to very strict tolerances.

   the table on the bandsaw and the stop on the unisaw tilt were off a few degrees, and were easily corrected. the saw blade to the mitre channel was within .001 for both tools (bandsaw, unisaw). the splitter mount on the unisaw was dead on to the arbor mount. the biesemeyer fence was off quite a bit to the mitre channel, but very easily corrected. the jointer head was square to the infeed and outfeed beds. the drill press chuck was centered over the table. on all of the tools, all the adjustment levers/knobs/wheels moved very smoothly. all in all, they were a joy to build, and easy to set up. (haven't changed jointer or planer knives yet, but that doesn't look to have any surprises.)

   as far as differences to the "regular tools", the most obvious comparison is in the bandsaw. the non-x dust chute looks to be an afterthought at best; it's 2.5" and mounted just under the table, and doesn't get much of the dust. the x-series has a 4" dust chute mounted on the main cabinet with a tunnel up to the table, and works very well. the tables and motor mounts are similar, but the x-series cabinet is sturdier, and the quick-release tensioner seems smoother. my only complaint with the x-series BS is that i wish there was a 2nd dust chute off the 9 o'clock position of the bottom wheel and a brush mounted at 11 o'clock (like the powermatic has) to get the sawdust trapped between the blade and the tire. there may be analogous differences in the jointer and unisaw, but i haven't seen the non-x-series versions of those tools "up close".

   i didn't see enough difference between the x- and the non-x drill presses to justify the $500 price difference. so instead, i bought the non-x, so i could afford the planer. :-)

   i've used the x-series drum sander (although i bought the performax -- better adjustability), and the x-series shaper (overkill for me right now), and i looked closely at the x-series planer (probably would have bought it instead of the benchtop, but ran out of $$ and floor space :-).

   all the tools work well, and i'm still happy with my purchases 6 months after the fact. (got 'em all at woodcraft on one of their delta days sales; factor in discounts, rebates, free bases and tools, and they were a heck of a deal -- for example, the unisaw netted out less than the cost of either the dewalt or jet hybrid saw with extension table and mobile base.)

   cheers,
   bert

   if it's worth doing at all, then it's worth doing well.